BOSTON (WHDH) -- A Boston Police officer jumped into the frigid water to reach a drowning woman Friday.

Cell phone video captured Boston Police Officer Edward Norton taking
the plunge; he jumped into the frigid Fort Point channel in a torrential
downpour to rescue the woman who'd fallen into the water.

“She was in there calling for help and I can swim,” said Officer Edward Norton, Boston Police Department.

Hal Munger was just walking back from lunch. He took out his cell phone and started recording.

“He didn't hesitate... took off his belt and jumped into the water swam over to get her,” said Hal Munger.

Officer Norton says the woman was drowning and he didn't think twice about diving in.

“One of the other officers had been given a life preserver from someone
else -- I think it came from the Tea Party Museum, so that helped a
lot,” Officer Norton said. “I was able to hold on to that while she was
holding onto the life preserver, while holding onto the raft that was
out there.”

“He put the life preserver on her, held on. They held on until the fire
department came and then the divers jumped in after them,” said Keith
Young, a witness.

Bystanders watched as a boat picked up Officer Norton, the woman and
the two firefighters. All four were taken to the hospital to be checked
out for hypothermia.

“Tell you what. That cop was the hero today. Didn't think twice about it,” said Young.

But Officer Norton says it was all in a day's work.

“That's our job to show up when people call for help, if we don't help then no one's going to,” Officer Norton said.